Protected rail.



No. 802,716, PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. L. STEINBERGER.

PROTEGTED RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES. INVENTOI? ouzifiznfiezyer (M /rm M. 4 W

ATTORNEYS No. 802,716. A PATBNTED OUT. 24, 1905.

L. STEINBERGER.

PROTECTED RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED 11mm, 1904.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

WITH/E8858. INVENTOI? Jisinfieryvr ATTORNEYS cal cross-section through the same.

lNITED STATES PATENT orrp PROTECTED RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed November 2, 1904. Serial No. 231,096.

T (117/ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis STEINBERGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Protected Rail, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to railways, my more particular object being to produce a protected rail which may be employed in various relations for supplying current to electric railways.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one arrangement of my protected rail as mounted and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a verti- Fig. 3is a perspective view of the main portion of a support. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary perspective View of the lower covering for the rail, showing the overlapping joint and means for compensating the expansion and contraction of this covering. Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, but showing the separate members of the lower covering in contact and in their normal positions while in use; and Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, showing the overlapping joints of the upper covering.

Each base 8 is mounted upon a cross-tie 7, being secured thereto by means of bolts 9. Each base is provided with a cylindrical aperture 10 and supports a body portion 11, of insulating material, this body portion being provid ed with a central boss 12, which rests within the aperture 10, as will he understood from Fig. 2. The body portion 11 is provided with a skirt 13, integral therewith, which protects the metallic base 8 from the action of the weather and also prevents the entry of water into the aperture 10. The body portion 11 is further provided with a comparatively deep slot 14 and a comparatively shallow slot 15, these slots being disposed vertically and cut across the horizontal base 16. Another base 17 is disposed obliquely, as shown, and is provided with a screw-hole 18, passing into the insulating material at an angle, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 2.

The rail consists of a comparatively thick base portion 19, occupying when in position a vertical plane, and web portions 20, 21, and

22, bent so as to form angles with each other, the several web portions and the base portions being integral with each other. The substantially angular surface 23 between the web portions 21 22 is suitable for a contact-surface in instances where it is desired that a trolley or collector shoeshall make contact with the under side of therail. Similarly, the substantially angular bend 24 upon the upper side of the rail may be engaged by a trolley or collector shoe where it is desired that the trolley shall make contact with the upper portion of the rail, the latter of course being uncovered.

The upper insulating-covering consists of separate members 25, which may be of any desired length and which rest loosely upon the rail. Each section of the upper covering terminates at its lower edge in a flange 26, integral therewith, this flange being vertical when the rail is in position and extends down as far as may be desired. Each section is further provided with a sloping portion 27 and with a vertical flange 28, which extends slightly below the adjacent edge of the web portion 22 of the rail, so as to thoroughly shield the same. A screw 29 passes through the web portion and into the body portion 11 of insulating material, so as to secure the rail rigidly thereto.

The lower insulating-covering 30 is made in sections, as shown, each section being provided with a comparatively thin rotund edge 31 and also provided with flanges 32 Each section is substantially wedge-shaped, as will be understood from Fig. 4, and is provided with an underlapping tongue 34:, extending across its entire width and with a mutilation 36 adjacent to said tongue. Each section is further provided with an overlapping tongue at the end thereof opposite the underlap ping tongue 34:, and this overlapping tongue is provided with a portion 37, which occupies the mutilation 36. Similarly, the sections of the upper covering 25 are provided with underlapping tongues 38 and overlapping tongues 39. 1

My invention is usedas follows: The rail being secured upon the several insulating portions 11 of the posts, the upper covering and the lower covering are placed in position. Either one of these coverings may be left 011', however, either in whole or in part. The lower covering 30 is held rigidly in position by means of the flanges 32 33, which engage the slot 15, the edge 31 of the covering resting directly against the rail. Of course where the surface 24 is to be used as a contact-surface of a trolley or collector shoe the upper covering is not used.

It may be desirable in some systems to apply the upper covering during a part of the year and to employ the surface 23 as a contact-surface of the trolley or collector shoe or to remove the upper covering during another part of the year in order that the surface 24 may be employed as a contact-surface. In case either the upper or lower covering expands or contracts by heat or cold the overlapping and underlapping members and 34 compensate for the relative movement, and

under all conditions where the coverings are employed the rail and its accompanying parts are insulated and protected from the action of water, snow, and sleet and afford at the same time a perfect protection to persons from shocks or danger from contact with the liverail.

I do not limit myself to the use of the covers above mentioned nor to covers of the particular kind shown nor to the mechanism shown for supporting the rail. Neither do I limit myself to the particular construction disclosed nor to any part or combination of parts of the device described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A protected rail, comprising a rail-section provided with an overhanging top portion, said top portion having a substantially v'shape contact-surface upon its under side.

2. In a protected rail, the combination of a rail member, and a covering therefor, said covering being made in sections provided with overlapping ends and countersinks, so that an overlapping end of one section of said covering engages the countersink of another section thereof, thereby rendering the covering practically continuous.

3. A protected rail, comprising a post provided with a central slot and with a portion raised above said slot, and a rail provided with a base portion engaging said slot and with a plurality of web portions integral with said base portion and with each other, one of said web portions engaging said raised portion of said post.

4. The combination of a member of insulating material provided with a slot to be engaged by a rail and also provided with a second slot, and a covering of insulating material provided with a portion for engaging said second slot and with a portion for resting upon said rail.

5. The combination of a post provided with a vertically-disposed central slot and with a raised portion adjacent to said slot, a rail of angle metal mounted upon said post and provided with a web portion for engaging said raised portion of said post and with a base portion for engaging said slot, and a covering of insulating material for engaging said post and adapted to shield said rail.

6. The combination of a rail, means for supporting the same, and a plurality of covering-sections resting upon said rail, each of said covering-sections being provided with an overlapping tongue and an underlapping tongue, the tongue of one section engaging that of another section for the purpose of forming a waterproof joint.

7. The combination of a member of insulating material provided with a slot, and a covering made in sections, each of said sections being provided with a portion for entering said slot. I

S. The combination of a member of insulating material for supporting a rail, said member of insulating material being pro vided with a slot, and a covering provided with a portion entering said slot and with a portion for engaging said rail.

9. As an article of manufacture, a rail-cow ering having substantially a wedge shape in cross section and provided with means whereby said covering may be mounted so as to protect a rail.

10. The combination of a base provided with an aperture, a member of insulating material provided with a boss resting within said aperture, means for securing saidbase upon a cross-tie, and a rail resting directly upon said member of insulating material.

11. The combination of a base portion of metal, a member of insulating material engaging said base portion and provided with a skirt encircling said base portion for protecting the same from the weather, and means for mounting a rail directly upon said member of insulating material.

12. As an article of manufacture, a protected rail section having a substantially rounded hollow head portion provided with a plurality of contact-surfaces, one being disposed internally thereof and the other being disposed externally thereof, and means for supporting said head portion.

13. As an article of manufacture, a de tachable section of insulating material provided with projecting portions whereby the same may be temporarily mounted in engagement with a rail.

14. A protected rail, comprising a member of insulating material, means for supporting the same, a rail engaging said member of insulating material, and coverings of insulating material resting directly upon said rail, said coverings being provided with portions overlapping each other.

15. In a protected rail, the combination of a rail member, and a covering of insulating material being provided with a bend for the purpose of clinging upon the rail by its own weight.

16. As an article of manufacture, a rail consisting of a plurality of web portions, and

a base portion integral with each other, said base portion being of uniform thickness and adapted to rest upon its edge in bodies of insulating material.

17. A protected rail, comprising a railsection having a plurality of web portions and a base portion, said base portion and said rail-section being integral with each other, said base portion being adapted to rest upon its edge in bodies of insulating ma terial, and a rail-covering mounted upon said rail-section and depending therefrom.

18. A protected rail, comprising a body portion and a Web portion, said web portion being bent so as to form a plurality of angular contact-surfaces, and a covering for engaging 

